Fritz mink



P. MINK.

WATCH CASE.

No Model.)

e3 A w d rlr Patented Apr. 1, 1890.

FIG.5'

`UNITED STATEs PATENT @Tricia FRITZ MINK, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNOR TO THE KEYS'IONE IVATCH CASE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

WATCH-CAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 424,491, dated April 1,1890.

To all whom it 71mg concern;

Be it known that I, FRITZ MINK, of the city and county of Philadelphia,and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Watch-Cases,of which the following is a speciication.

My invention relates to watch-cases; and it consists of certainimprovements, which are fully set forth in the following specification,and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

The object of my invention is to form a coniparatively inexpensivewatch-case having the strong and handsome appearance of more expensivecases, and with certain improved devices for securing themovement-holding ring within the watch-case center.

Y My invention is particularly suited to dustproof watch-cases formedwith a combined bezel and center, to which the back is secured, thoughit is not necessarily limited thereto.

In carrying out my invention I forni the combined center and bezel of anouter piece of comparatively thin metal of finer quality-- such as gold,or silver, or filled inet-c l-which is held in shape and given solidityby means of an inner ire-enforcing or strenghtening ring of cheapermetal-such as brass-this latter also forming the support for themovementholding ring. There is given to the case a solid and richappearance with great saving of expensive metal, owing to the employmentof the inner strengthening-piece of cheaper metal and forming the outerportion of thin metal, firmness being supplied by the inner piece orring. The movement-ring is secured Within this inner piece whichconstitutes the inner ring of the watch-case center by means -of screwsor similar devices located upon this inner piece or ring and havingtheir heads operating in a groove formed upon the movement-holdin gring, as is hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings, Figure I is a plan view of a watch-case embodying myimprovements with the back removed. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view ofthe same on the line y y of Fig.

1. with the back attached. Fig. 3 is a crosssectional view on the line mo@ of Fig. l with the back attached. Fig. 1l is a sectional side vi ewof the detached movement-rin g, and Fi 5 is a similar view of thedetached strengtheiiing or re-enforcing ring of the center.

A is the outer portion of the watch-case center, formed of comparativelythin metal and having the inwardly-projectingbezel-reflector h at oneedge, forming the internal annular groove o.. The other or rear edge ofthe poi'- tioii A is provided with screw-tlireads d.

B is a strengthening or re-enforcing ring, of cheaper metal, forming theinner face of the watch-case center, having one edge curved to iitsnugly into the annular groove a, formed between the outer portion A andthebezelreflector l), and having its other edge provided withscrew-threads J, adapted to engage the threads d of the portion A tosecure the ring B and the outer part A together. By this means thecurved edge or rim of the ring B is forced down into the groove a. Thisinner ring B is thus in contact with the outei part A at itsextremities, thereby forming a support and backing for it. At thecentral portion, however, I prefer to have the outerpart A and the innerring B not in contact, :torni- `ing the annular chamber or space I,because owing to the curvature of the metal of the outer part A at thispoint it is provided with sufficient strength without having the backingor re-enforcement of the ring B, and the case is not made needlesslyheavy, and room is left for the location here of certain devicessometimes used in stein-settiiig watches. This construction also greatlyreduces the trouble of lfitting of the parts A and B. It is apparent,however, that this annular chamber I may be omitted and the parts A andB made in contact with each other throughout their adjacent surfaces.

D is thebaclnwhich is provided with a screwthreaded rim adapted toengage the screwthreads d ot the part A, which are made sufficient innumber to receive both the threads J of the inner ring B and the back D.

G are half-headed screws carried on the upper surface of the ring B,preferably countersunk therein, and adapted to have their heads projectover the edge of the ring B for the purpose of securing themovement-holding ring E within the watch-case center.

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The movement-ring E contains the works Fraud is provided with twoannular ledges or iianges e c about its outer surface, forming anannular groove or recess between them adapted to receive the heads ofthe screws G to secure the movement-ring E. It is apparent t-hat theseflanges or ledges e c need not be continuous, as shown; but in placethereof lugs may be used only at the points at which the screw-heads Gwill project. As these anges, however, act as guides or supports betweenthe movement-holding ring and the inner surface of the watch-casecenter, l prefer to form them continuous to obtain a greater guiding orsupporting surface. lt is apparent also that in place of using theflanges c e the groove may be formed directly in the surface of themovement-ring,

By using two flanges c c on the movementholding ring it is held rigidlyagainst movement to or from the glass, and thus the entire strain ofholding the works comes on the screws. The countersinking of thescrewheads is to enable the upper flange c', as well as the screw-head,to be received below the outer surface of the re-enforcing ring B, sothat the inner liange of the back D may screw down close to the ring B,as shown in Fig. 2.

It' desired, in place olf screwing the back D to the center B, as shown,the parts may be snapped together over an undercut edge in the ordinarymanne1,or they may be hinged together.

C is the glass, secured to the bezel in the usual manner.

While l prefer the details of construction here shown,l do not limit myinvention to them, as it is apparent that they may be varied withoutdeparting from the principles ot the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a watch-case, a combined center and bezel consisting of an outerportion of thin metal having an inner screw-threaded rim and an innerstrengthening or re-enforcing ring of heavier metal having its upperedge screw-threaded for attachment to said screwthreaded rim ot theouter portion, and having its lower edge curved and in contact with saidouter covering of thin metal to impart strength thereto.

2. In a watch-case, a combined center and bezel consisting of an outerportion of thin metal having an inner screw-threaded rim and an innerstrengthening or re-enforcing ring of heavier metal having its upperedge screw-threaded for attachment to said screwthreaded rim of theouter portion, and having its lower edge curved and in contact with saidouter covering of thin metal to impart strength thereto, and having anannular space between said inner ring and outer portion and between theextremities of said inner ring.

3. A combined watch-case center and bezel consisting of an outercovering of thin metal and an inner re-eniorcing ring attached to theouter covering at one extremity and having its other extremity incontact with the inner surface of said thin outer covering to impartstrength thereto, and leaving an annular space between the inner surfaceof said outer portion and the outer surface of said inner ring, incombination with a back adapted to be secured to said outer portion.

Il. A combined watch-case center and bezel consisting of an outerportion of thin metal, having one of its rims provided with screwthreadsand the other rim with an inwardlyprojecting bezel-reflector, forming anannu lar groove, and a re-entorcing or strengthening ring adapted toreceive the movementring of the watch, having one of its rims curved tolit into said annular groove and the outer rim provided with threads forattachment to said outer portion.

5. A combined watch-case center and bezel consisting of an outer portionot thin metal having one of its rims provided with screwthreads and theother rim with an inwardlyprojecting bezel-reflector, forming an annulargroove, and a re-enforcing or strengthening ring adapted to receive themovementring of the watch, havin g one of its rims curved to tit intosaid annular groove and the outer rim provided with threads forattachment to said outer portion, a movement-ring, and dcvices carriedby said re-enforcing ring to secure the movement-ring therein.

G. A combined watch-case center and bezel consisting of an outer portionof thin metal having one of its rims provided with screwthreads and theother rim with an inwardlyprojecting bezel-reflector, forming an annulargroove, and a re-enforcing or strengthening ring adapted to receive themovementring of the watch, having one ot its rims curved to fit intosaid annular groove and the other rim provided with threads 'torattachment to said outer portion, in combination with the back of thewatch, adapted to be secured to said outer portion of the center with adustproof connection.

7. A combined watch-case center and bezel consisting ot an outer portionof thin metal having one et' its rims provided with screwthreads and theother rim with an inwardlyprojecting bezel-rellector, forming an annulargroove, and are-entorcing or strengthening ring adapted to receive themovementring of the watch, having one ot' its rims curved to fit intosaid annular groove and the other riln provided with threads forattachment to said outer portion, a movement-ring, and devices carriedby said re enforcing ring to secure the movement-ring therein,consisting ot halt-headed screws adapted to project over an edge of saidmovement-rin g to secure it within the center.

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8. In a Watch-case, a combined eenterand outer portion and Within theannular `groove bezel consisting of an outer portion of thin formed bythe beZel-reiieetor. 1o metal forlned'with an inwardly projecting Intestimony of which invention l have herebezel-reiieetor and an innerre-enforeing' or unto set my hand.

strengthening ring having its upper edge in 4 FRITZ MINK. Contact withthe upper rirn of said outer por- Vitnesses:

tion and its lower edge curved and fitting NICHOLAS MOORE,

against the inner surface of the metal of said A. MINNIOK.

